Friends And Colleagues To Gather Together to Celebrate the Life and Career of Charlotte Rae
By: A.A. Cristi Oct. 25, 2018
Friends of Charlotte will gather for a celebration of her life and distinguished career on Broadway, films and television on Thursday, November 1. Charlotte passed away on August 5th. The New York City invitational Celebration is hosted by Ted Seifman, Jim Brochu, David Staller and Ted Snowdon. For more information 212 355-7823 or info@gingoldgroup.org.
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 - August 5, 2018), known professionally as Charlotte Rae, was an American character actress, comedian, and singer whose career spanned six decades in theatre, television and films.
Rae was known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes (37 episodes) and starring its spin-off, The Facts of Life (155 episodes). She received an Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy in 1982.
The theatre career began in 1954 in Three Wishes for Jamie; followed by numerous musicals and plays: The Golden Apple; The Littlest Revue; Lil Abner (Mammy Yokum); The Beauty Part; Pickwick; Morning, Noon and Night; The Chinese and Dr. Fish; Boom Boom Room.In 1954 she starred as Mrs. Peachum in Threepenny Opera. She also stared in Into the Woods (Jack's Mother) in Los Angeles and the lead role in Driving Miss Daisy in Chicago. She was a two time Tony Award Nominee.
Charlotte's television career also started in 1954 and she appeared in many of the various theatre/playhouse productions and that continued for decades. Car 54, Where Are You saw her in 11 episodes as well as in dozens of other television shows and series including Queen of the Stardust Ballroom. This was her first Emmy Nomination followed by another for The Facts of Life.
She also appeared in two Facts of Life television movies: The Facts of Life Goes to Paris (1982) and The Facts of Life Reunion (2001). She voiced the character of "Nanny" in 101 Dalmatians: The Series (43 episodes) and Aunt Pristine Figg in Tom and Jerry: The Movie. She also appeared as Gammy Hart in Girl Meets World.
In movies her films began in 1969 for many years. In 2015, she returned to film in the feature film, Ricki and the Flash with Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Rick Springfield. In November 2015, Rae released her autobiography, The Facts of My Life, which was co-written with her son, Larry Strauss.
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